KP govt eases lockdown, allows shops to open four days a week.

PESHAWAR -- The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Friday announced the easing of lockdown enforced across the province on March 21 to check the spread of novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

According to it, shops and selected businesses will open four days a week and that all businesses will be closed at 4pm.

A notification of the relief, rehabilitation and settlement department said all businesses would remain closed across the province on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

'The decision regarding easing the lockdown has been taken on the advice of the federal government,' said adviser to the chief minister on information Ajmal Wazir.

Says permission subject to SOP adherence

He said the National Coordination Committee, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Thursday, had announced the lifting of lockdown in phases.

The adviser said the lockdown was announced across the province on March 21 to contain the virus and that the closure of businesses except those of essential services was extended from time to time.

The RRS department's notification said all shops were allowed to remain open four days a week but not later than 4pm in the day subject to adaptation of the standard operating procedures.

It, however, said the businesses except the already identified essential ones would remain closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The government has yet to decide about the resumption of public transport service.

The notification said meetings of the representatives of transporters at provincial and divisional levels would be convened to discuss preparation of proper SOPs for transport service.

The government exempted construction activities, businesses of steel, PVC pipes, electric appliances, manufacturers of steel, aluminum equipment, ceramics, paints industries, sanitary, paints, steel, aluminum works and hardware stores from the closure.

The notification said permission for...